Part two

Whilst Emmet was enjoying his new relationship with Caroline, Rose on the other hand felt she needed something more in her life. After Emmet, drifting from man to man just didn't seem to cut it any more.

"What we all need is a holiday." Violet announced on the rare occasion she popped round to visit her father.

"You've both got passports haven't you?" She asked her sisters?

"Well yes," Daisy and Rose both replied.

"Let's make use of the villa while I'm still married to that swine. The divorce papers should be served in the next few weeks. I can lie low when he gets them. Rose you need to get out of here and get over that piano man who lives next door to our Hyacinth and Dais you need a break. I'll pay for the flights. You wont need to worry about anything."

"But who will look after Father?" Daisy asked.

"Onslow can, its about time he pulled his weight around here." Reasoned Rose.

"And who's going to look after Onslow?" Daisy's husband interjected.

"He's right, I better stay here." The eldest of the three sisters replied.

"Oh Daisy! Well, you had your chance. I'll sort us some flights out in the morning Rose." Violet replied.

A week later the two sisters were sunning themselves in Ibiza. Violet was determined to use this holiday to help put her marriage behind her and Rose wanted a distraction from thinking about Emmet. Violet had learnt from her solicitor that she would easily get half of everything she and Bruce owned. So she put in a clause that the houses would get sold and the profits would be divided equally. And because she and Bruce jointly owned the six betting shops and the flats above, she would get three of the buildings. Violet had already plans for them. Including making Rose the manager of the one she would keep as a rival bookies to Bruce. Reluctantly Rose agreed. She liked her little job selling jewellery but she did agree she needed something more in her life. And Violet was confident with a short skirted Rose running the shop Bruce would quickly lose customers at his shops.

"That man at the bar fancies you, he keeps looking your way." Rose eventually said, lowering her sunglasses and gesturing to the rugged, tanned, topless man at the beach bar, which was a few feet away.

"Give over, it will be you he's oggling. It's always you they oggle at." The sister replied still flicking through her glossy magazine.

"Well at least go over to the bar and get him to buy you a drink. You've got to get back on the horse at some stage, our Violet."

"I notice you haven't copped off once on this holiday."

"I'm pacing meself, there's not been much talent up until now. So go and chat that fella up."

Feeling ambushed, Violet did as her little sister told her and went across the beach to the bar. Rose took out her Walkman, put her headphones on, pressed play and closed her eyes.

Moments later she was abruptly interrupted by Violet blocking her light as she was standing over her sun lounger, holding out a piece of paper.

"He asked me if I would give this to my attractive friend in the white bikini."

Rose laughed at her sister before waving seductively at the man who was still propped up at the bar.

"You ought to go and see him, he seems very keen."

"Maybe later, I'll have a dip in the sea first. Watch me stuff Vi." Rose said heading in the direction of the clear blue water. Looking back to see if the bloke was still watching. Which of course he was.

Elizabeth sighed with relief when she heard the key click in the lock. Even though her brother was a grown up she still worried when he was out late. She had been pleased when he introduced Caroline to her. She was perfect for him, she was well mannered, polite, well dressed and seemed to have a lot in common with Emmet. Elizabeth had been worried when she found out about her brother's clandestine liaisons with Rose. While it had been nice to see him smiling again, Liz thought he had been playing with fire. Due to Rose's unconventional lifestyle and the fact her sister was Hyacinth. No, it was nice that chapter was finished and Emmet was content.

"Hello, brother." She called out as he entered the living room.

"Hi," he sighed as he sat himself down on the sofa.

"Have you had a nice date? Is Caroline alright?"

"It was alright. And she's fine."

"You don't sound so sure?" Probed his sister.

"It was fine. Honestly. We had a nice time. The gallery was interesting and the meal was very good." He said with a tinge of something, Elizabeth couldn't put her finger on.

"Now why do I sense a but coming?"

Emmet didn't know how to reply to that but his sister had hit the nail on the head. There was a but.

"Oh I don't know, Liz. I mean it's great with Caroline. She's lovely, kind and we have so much in common. On paper it should work perfectly. But there's something missing." He sighed. He knew what was missing but didn't want to admit it to his sister.

"You mean a spark?"

"I guess you could say so. Can you make it work without that spark do you think? I mean your marriage isn't exactly fizzing with excitement. He spends all his time working abroad."

"True but you have to have some spark to begin with." Liz smiled coyly, "Anyway when Matty comes home I feel like the first time we met."

"So what do I do?"

"This spark you are so keen on finding? Dare I ask if you felt it when you were seeing Rose?"

Emmet blushed and smiled. "I thought it was just infatuation that came with the fun of it all. I believed once my confidence came and I asked Caroline out I would feel the same with her. More so as I'd lusted after her for long enough but I don't. I don't understand it Liz. I've got the woman of my dreams, I should be so happy. So why can't I get Hyacinth bloody Bucket's sister out of my head?"

"Oh brother dear, it sounds like you've got it bad. Well maybe Rose feels the same about you? She's always been very keen." His sister tried.

"Ha! I doubt it after all this time." He sighed. "Remember when I came back from our weekend at Violet's cottage? I said to you then I thought I'd upset her by telling her I was going to ask Caroline out. Well I think that ship's sailed."

"So where does this leave Caroline?"

"I'll go for a drink with her tomorrow night and be honest with her. Tell her it's not working for me." There was a touch of regret in his voice.

"Well I'm proud of you Emmet, for having the guts to do the decent thing and what's right for you, as well as Caroline. There's just one thing. What about Rose?"

"I don't think Rose will be interested. Not any more." Emmet replied, bluntly.

"Why don't you telephone her and find out? At least ring her and ask to talk to her. Find out how she feels. See if you can make it work." His sister tried.

"Maybe. I'll speak with Caroline and take it from there."

True to his word, the next day Emmet had arranged to go for a drink with Caroline after work. He felt a pang of guilt when she took hold of his hand as they walked the short distance to the pub.

The brunette smiled as Emmet handed her a small glass of red wine.

She was just about to ask him if he'd like to spend the weekend at hers when he blurted out he didn't want to see her again.

Taken aback she spluttered, "can I ask why? What have I done to upset you?"

Emmet sighed. "Nothing, it's not you Caroline, you are wonderful." Emmet genuinely meant it.

"So what's the problem?" She shouted, causing the neighbouring tables to all look in their direction.

"I just don't think you are the right person for me Caroline and I value you too much to string you along. Please believe me." He whispered, embarrassed that most of the pub was listening.

"There's someone else?" Caroline, unlike Emmet wasn't afraid to raise her voice.

"No, not really'," he stuttered.

"But you want someone else?"

He nodded, too ashamed to admit it verbally.

Caroline rose from the table, "well thank you very much for telling me Emmet, I appreciate it. See you at work on Monday." Before he could reply Caroline left, not before her parting shot of throwing her wine in his face. Embarrassed, Emmet retreated home.

"She didn't take it well then." Liz stated when her brother came into the kitchen looking deflated and smelling like a wine bar.

"No she didn't, she threw her drink in my face."

"Well at least she got the message" his sister replied enthusiastically. "I better get that shirt in to soak, otherwise that wine will never come out."

"I'm going for a shower then I'll ring Rose. I really have nothing to lose now." He said feeling truly dejected.